With a huge score of 316 to defend, South African skipper Pollock could afford to attack the Kenyan batsmen. With the breeze bringing in dark clouds from the west and the threat of rain looming large, South Africa had to go in for quick wickets.

Pollock straight away employed three slips, letting everyone know what he intended to. It was Pollock who struck first, with the final ball of the third over; he removed Rivendu Shah (3) – caught by Kallis at second slip.

One ball later, the new batsman Brijal Patel departed for a duck, caught by Pollock at slip off Alan Dawson’s bowling. Kenya were reduced to 5/2 in 3.2 overs and was in danger of being shot out for a low score.

Kennedy Otieno and Steve Tikolo defied the South African bowling showing a lot commitment. There was a bizarre moment when Otieno swung at a leg side wide from Klusener and lost his bat in the process, which flew in the direction Mark Boucher diving to his left to gather the ball.

Luckily for Boucher the bat fell a foot or so away from him. There was a huge sigh of relief from Pollock, and Kallis couldn’t help laughing at all of this.

Allan Donald substituted Dawson for a while and showed signs of injury or fatigue; he was diving and chasing the ball like the Donald we all know of.

Tikolo, growing in confidence, tucked the ball of his hip to the fine leg fence off Ntini for four, and Pollock was quick to change the field. At the end of the 15th over Kenya were 40 for the loss of two wickets.

Klusener was erratic, bowling wides at will, and even got spanked by Tikolo to the mid-wicket and long off fence. Ten runs was scored off the 16th over to make it 50/2.

There was more punishment in order for Klusener, this time Kennedy Otieno playing an exquisite cover drive for four, and a thump down the ground for three.

Otieno’s (16 off 53 balls) long vigil at the crease ended when he skied a mistimed pull off the bowling of Ntini for an easy catch to Benkenstein at square leg.

Maurice Odumbe went for a duck, undone by a sharp bouncer from Ntini, playing straight into the safe hands of Donald at fine leg. Kenya were 64/4 in the 21st over.

Tikolo survived a shout for caught behind off Kallis, the decision was give in favour of the batsman after consulting the third umpire, TV replays confirmed that the ball had gone off the batsman’s shoulder.

Thomas Odoyo took the battle to Ntini in the 25th over, playing a rousing cover drive and then a powerful pull for fours. Ntini struck back with a bouncer, and Boucher put down the resultant edge of the hook shot. Tikolo, making it 13 runs off the over, spanked the final ball of the 25th over through covers.

The only concern in the South African camp must be Alan Dawson’s sore elbow; he has been off the field after his initial spell of 5-2-12-1.

Gibbs made a sparkling 116 off 126 balls, and Jacques Kallis cracked a whirlwind 60 off 53 balls as the Kenyan bowling disappeared to all parts of the ground.

The deluge of runs in Colombo meant that South Africa had scored 189 runs in the second half of their innings.

Gibbs had signalled his intentions soon after the 25th over, pulling Collins Obuya over square leg for a massive six to move into the eighties.

South Africa's domination was complete, but against the run of play Maurice Odumbe got rid of Smith, smartly stumped by David Obuya.

Smith made 69 off 77 balls with the help of half a dozen boundaries, his fourth one-day fifty in nine ODIs.

After South Africa's best opening stand against Kenya, Kallis joined Gibbs and the two put together a quick fire partnership of 60 runs to increase the tempo.

Soon after reaching his hundred, tucking Steve Tikolo past the ropes at fine leg, Gibbs opened out against Kamande, smashing the ball over mid-wicket for a six, an astonishing extra cover drive for four, and then a towering six straight down the ground. Sixteen runs came off the first three balls before Kamande had Gibbs caught behind for 116 ( 3 sixes, 13 fours). South Africa were 214/2 in the 37th over.

There was no respite for the Kenyan bowlers as the new batsman Boeta Dippenaar slogged Steve Tikolo for a huge six over mid-wicket. Kallis relied on quick running between the wickets and quickly moved through the the forties to fifty with a boundary and a six off leg-spinner Collins Obuya.

Steve Tikolo, too, took the punishment as Kallis and Dippenaar took boundaries off his ninth over. Dippenaar made a quick fire 31 (28 balls, 3 fours, 1 six) before being stumped by David Obuya off the bowling of Collins Obuya.

Kallis was beaten by a quicker one from Tikolo and the ball rebounded off the keeper’s pad onto the stumps. The TV umpire was consulted and Kallis was ruled out stumped. Kallis made 60 off 53 balls (5 fours, 1 six).

Dale Benkenstein (7) was caught at the long off fence by Martin Suji off the bowling of Collins Obuya whilst searching for quick runs.

The final over bowled by Thomas Odoyo cost 17 runs as Lance Klusener hit a four and a six down the ground.

This is the third time in seven encounters that South Africa have scored in excess of 300 against Kenya.

South Africa made a steady start; there was not much of flamboyant shots attempted in the first 10 overs, as Smith and Gibbs played sensibly. They did not miss out on the loose balls, punishing it for boundaries.

Gibbs was the first to reach his 50 off 70 balls, striking seven boundaries. Gibbs has been supremely confident, using his feet to charge down the track and loft the ball to the fence.

Smith was also not to be left behind as he got to his 50 off 62 balls with four boundaries in it. Smith also showed a liking for using his feet to smash the ball down the ground.

Once South Africa score went past the 100-runs mark in the 21st over, both the batsman started showing some urgency. Smith swept Collins Obuya for a four, and Gibbs took consecutive fours off Maurice Odumbe, a heave over mid-wicket and a late dab to the third man fence.

At the end of the 25th over, South Africa are well poised to be the first team to go past the 300-runs mark in the tournament. Gibbs is unbeaten on 66 off 88 balls with nine strokes past the ropes. Smith seems to have cemented his place in the South African ODI side as an opener; he is unbeaten on 57 off 66 balls with the help of five boundaries.

Conditions are perfect for a one-day game, even though it rained rather heavily in the morning. It is clear blue skies and brilliant sunshine in Colombo. The pitch looks a very good one to bat on.

South Africa have made three changes as expected. Allan Donald, Jonty Rhodes and Nicky Boje have been rested. Benkenstein, Ontong and Ntini are the replacements.

Kenya have meanwhile made one change to the side that lost to West Indies, out goes Joseph Angara; making room for James Kamande.

This is the seventh one-day international between the two teams, and Kenya have not even come closer to beating the mighty South African team.

The teams are as follows:

South Africa: GC Smith, HH Gibbs, JH Kallis, HH Dippenaar, DM Benkenstein, +MV Boucher, L Klusener, *SM Pollock, AC Dawson, JL Ontong, M Ntini.

Kenya: KO Otieno, RD Shah, BJ Patel, *SO Tikolo, MO Odumbe, TM Odoyo, +DO Obuya, CO Obuya, AO Suji, MA Suji, JK Kamande.

Umpires: DJ Harper (Aus) and S Venkataraghavan (Ind) TV Umpire: DR Shepherd (Eng) Match Referee: GR Viswanath (Ind)